WETLAND, FOREST & OTHER BIOMES

BIOMES: "A major community of living or-
ganisms; a complex of climax communities
of plants and animals in a major region."
"A major life zone, biotic formation."
"A major ecological community type."

PONDS, LAKES, STREAMS & SPRINGS
Bodies of fresh water, intricately arranged conditions throughout, and highly speci- alized inhabitants. 4 programs. Crammed with information. 80 slides, rich guides.
EP #101X SLIDES
$129.95

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SAVE OVER $40.00 ON 4 SLIDE SET BUNDLE ORDER EP #101X.......$129.95
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ECOLOGY OF A POND Order #101........$42.50

A comprehensive, detailed survey of freshwater pond environments. Special
attention is paid to the life history of ponds, the characteristics of their various zones,
specialized plant and animal life, and the complex interactions among these features.
Coverage includes food chain; spring and fall overturn; plant succession; invertebrates
such as ostracod, water beetle, dragonfly, snail and crayfish; and vertebrates such as
sunfish, bass, frog, snake, turtle, otter and heron. 20 slides and detailed guide.

CONTENT SAMPLE: 27327 Among the sunfish (family Centrarchidae), it is the male
which builds the nest and protects the eggs and young. The nest is about 30 cm (1 ft.) across
and lined with water plant roots or gravel. The male entices a number of females to lay eggs in
his nest, then chases them off. Nest building and egg laying occur when the water reaches 20° C
(68° F.).

These fish are largely carnivorous, feeding on worms, leeches, insects and their larvae,
aquatic crustaceans and smaller fish such as those of the minnow family. They are reported to
wait near partially submerged limbs or sticks until an insect or frog comes to rest on it, then they
bump the stick in an attempt to knock the prey into the water. Sunfish are preyed upon by larger
fish, such as pickerel and large mouth bass, a member of the same family.

REVIEWS: "A pond provides an excellent opportunity for students to study an
ecosystem...excellent written script...The color reproduction is excellent as is the photo
composition." Previews.
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NORTHERN LAKES AND THEIR INHABITANTS Order #488........$42.50

Presents the specialized freshwater environment of the forest lakes from
Minnesota to Maine along the US/Canadian border. These waters are fairly sterile and
harbor relatively few life forms. Surveys the various fish found in the lakes, describes
the factors controlling the lakes' productivity and even offers a rare photograph of a
thermocline. 20 slides and extensive guide.

CONTENT SAMPLE: Introduction. From the forests of northern Minnesota, across the
Great Lakes and through the northern states to Maine, unique freshwater environments are found
in tens of thousands of woodland lakes. In geologic terms, these aquatic environments are
relatively new, formed in the final retreat of the glaciers that reshaped the North American
continent at the end of the Pleistocene, more than 10,000 years ago....

These pristine waters attract millions of people each year, but few have the opportunity
to view them from an underwater perspective. The following is a broad look at the unique
characteristics and some of the many creatures characteristic of these northern lakes. Many of
the inhabitants are well-known to sportsmen and commercial fishermen; others abound virtually
unnoticed.

REVIEWS: "...well written and comprehensive...very good quality...especially timely..."
Journal of College Science Teaching. "...a good introduction..." School Library Journal.
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ECOLOGY OF A STREAM Order #113 ........$42.50

Surveys the special habitat provided by running fresh water and introduces the
animals and plants that live there. Various reaches of the stream are illustrated.
Emphasis is on the special adaptations of animals to life in running water, but plants and
terrestrial animals dependent upon stream habitats are also included. Includes life and
natural histories of water pennies, two species of darter, hellgrammite, water strider, two
species of water scorpion and shiner. 20 slides and extensive guide.

CONTENT SAMPLE: Introduction. Streams mirror the regions through which they flow.
Whether they originate in lakes, springs or in surface runoff, as they travel, streams drain the land
and take unto themselves all the elements of the land. Streams are like living things, always in a
dynamic state, maintaining balance and equilibrium through constant change and adjustment.
Changes in flow or in erosion rates in any part of a stream ultimately affect the entire stream, not
only downstream from the point of change, but upstream as well....

The forces of solution, erosion and deposition act in a predictable way, so that streams
have a definite evolutionary pattern: they pass from cutting, tumbling streams through to sluggish
meandering waters. The course of a stream may be divided, largely on the basis of the gradient
of the streambed, into three reaches--upper, middle and lower. Associated with these different
regions are changes in flora and fauna as well. Indeed, of all aquatic habitats, streams afford the
most sudden and abrupt changes in living conditions. It is not surprising then, that different
forms of animal and plant life are to be found in each of the reaches.
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FRESHWATER SPRINGS OF FLORIDA AND THEIR INHABITANTS Order #487.......$42.50

Florida has the world's largest and greatest concentration of freshwater springs.
Not only do they produce exceptional amounts of brilliantly clear water, but they are
home to a rich and varied aquatic fauna that include freshwater and transient marine
species. The extensive, detailed text covers the springs themselves and their plant
growth; the smallest vertebrate in North America, the least killifish; fresh and saltwater
fish such as bass, gar, bowfin, catfish, snapper, mullet and jack; snails; crayfish; turtle;
alligator; manatee; and fossil finds. 2O slides and detailed guide.

CONTENT SAMPLE: 25467 Two types of aquifers are capable of creating springs. The
Floridan Aquifer is an artesian aquifer, which subsequently produces artesian springs. Artesian
aquifers hold water that is confined beneath impermeable material such as clay or nonporous
rock. Artesian springs result when the head or hydrostatic pressure of the confined water is
sufficient to force water up through cracks or openings in the overlying impermeable layer. The
yearly input of water to the aquifer by rains maintains a steady pressure within the aquifer, which
in turn maintains a fairly constant flow to its springs year-round. In effect, artesian springs are
continual leaks or overflows from their aquifer.

In contrast, nonartesian springs develop where a dip in ground level occurs below the
surrounding water table of a nonartesian aquifer. Water simply flows by gravity through porous
ground and appears as seepage springs in low areas. Nonartesian springs are the most
common worldwide, are generally small, and their flows are directly influenced by the amount of
water in the local water table.

The artesian Floridan Aquifer is one of the largest aquifers in the world. Were it not the
source of Florida's springs, it would still be one of the state's most valuable natural resources....

REVIEWS: "...excellent background information..." School Library Journal.

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RELATED PROGRAMS WORTH NOTING
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A CLOSER LOOK AT PONDLIFE---CD-ROM Order #CDR-1565....$79.95
Lab Pack of 5 Order #CDR-1566....$159.95
Library Pack of 20 Order #CDR-1567....$559.95
Network Version (single server, one building) Order #CDR-1567N....$239.95

New 1999
Combined IBM/MAC Format

Through the wonders of close-up photography, this unique CD-ROM brings
students face-to-face with the inner workings of a freshwater pond, the myriad creatures
and plants that reside there, and the dynamic interactions that go on beneath the surface.
This disk features a library of reference information, images, illustrations, clip art, video
clips and more!

Section One provides a general overview of ecosystems in general and the pond
ecosystem in particular, and introduces the various life forms that reside there. These
include emergent and submerged rooted water plants, microscopic and small
macroscopic animals, aquatic insects, molluscs, amphibians, reptiles, birds and
mammals. Spring and fall overturns are explained and numerous links lead students to
images and text that round out their understanding.

Section Two delves into microscopic pond life in great detail, covering: the
different types of cells, eubacteria, cyanobacteria, euglenoids, diatoms, desmids,
dinoflagellates, flagellates, amoebas, ciliates, suctorians and green protists. Eye
stopping photographs of many examples accompany detailed information.

Section Three presents pond plants and information about how they grow and
reproduce, an what lives on and among them: larch, weeping willow, paper birch, poplar,
alder, jewelweed, ferns, mosses, phragmites, aromatic water lily, variable pond weed,
floating heart, submergent rooted plants, cardinal flower, sundew.

With more striking close-up photographs, Section Four presents the small
invertebrate life that is so plentiful amid the shallow water vegetation and pond sediments:
rotifers, gastrotrichs, hydras, flatworms, nematodes, bryozoans, microannelids,
cladocerans (water fleas), and microcrustaceans. Again, numerous links connect these
creatures to other members of the pond community.

Section Five introduces food chains and trophic levels, photosynthesizers,
herbivores, carnivores, omnivores and decomposers. In the process, the numerous pond
vertebrates—fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals—are reintroduced and
presented in depth, along with the microlife forms previously covered. Life styles, feeding
behavior, mating and reproduction, as well as their dependence on other pond life are
presented for the vertebrates.

Section Six provides Field Trip and Laboratory tips. Various classroom and field
projects, ways to collect and preserve specimens, how to calculate a diversity index,
safety considerations, etc.

Section Seven is a unique curriculum section that provides the means to link the
vast library of resources to key, curriculum-based science topics.

Can be used with either Windows or Mac. Color printer recommended.
System Requirements:
Windows 95 or higher, 16MB RAM. Sound card recommended.
Mac 7.5 or higher, 16MB RAM.
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EXPLORING FRESHWATER COMMUNITIES--CD-ROM Order #CDR-1550.........$99.95
Lab Pack of 5 Order #CDR-1550-5.........$199.95

Combined IBM/MAC Format

This indispensable interactive CD-ROM is a complete resource for studying
freshwater biomes.

It provides a fascinating survey of the ecology of swamps, bogs, marshes,
wetlands, streams, ponds, lakes and the Everglades. There is even an introduction to
fish restoration and water pollution.

It also explores the various organisms commonly found associated with these
waters--fish, plankton, protozoa, aquatic insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds and plants,
and emphasizes their special adaptations, feeding habits and the complex interactions
among them.

This program is an instant curriculum-oriented encyclopedia, augmented with
printable diagrams and illustrations, superb photographs, video clips, informative text, lab
activities, and a Protists Culture Database--all on one CD-ROM.

The extensive library of illustrations and diagrams supplements those found in
textbooks.

The Protist Culture Database makes it easy to find over 125 protist genera, and
iIncludes morphologic characteristics, culture parameters and media formulations.

Printable lab activities and laboratory activity tips at the end of each section
help make your ecology labs and field trips more successful than ever before.

Recommended for use with popular biology texts such as Holt: Modern Biology,
Chapter 49, and Prentice Hall: Biology, Chapter 47.

CONTENT SAMPLE:

There are four major types of wetlands: marsh, swamp, fen and bog. Exact classification
is not always possible, since characteristics of more than one type often occur together. In fact,
wetland ecologists sometimes disagree on exactly what these names mean. Before looking at a
bog, in detail, let's briefly consider these four types of wetlands.

A marsh is defined as a wet, open, grassy area with a fluctuating, but always shallow,
water level. The water is either standing or slowly moving. The substratum, or bottom, consists
of mineral soils with or without organic matter.

Both dissolved oxygen and mineral nutrients in the water are present in ample supply.
As a result, marshes can support an abundance of living organisms. Dominant vegetation in
marshes consists of rushes, reeds, reedgrasses, and numerous floating and, in areas of open
water, submerged aquatic plants.

Trees and shrubs are present only near the edges and on small islands of land within the
marsh.

The Everglades region of Florida is a well-known wetland primarily marsh in character.

Copyright (c) MCMXCVI
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TO KNOW A POND Video order #FV-1001.........$79.95

A detailed, far-ranging photographic exploration of the complex web of life that
develops in a pond. Two parts (127 & 123 frames), very extensive 51 page guide, rich
sound track. (Filmstrip order FS-1001.)

PART I: Details the wide variety of ponds. Shoreside, carnivorous and water
plants. Introduces such diverse pond residents as plankton, insects, various scavengers
(snails, crayfish, turtles and fish), sunfish, pickerel, carp, gar, eels, bass and their
spawning behavior. Throughout, the continuity of the food chain through predation is
presented.

PART II: Presents the poikilotherms and their life patterns--frogs, salamanders,
turtles, snakes and alligators. Reproduction and development of frogs, salamanders and
turtles. The importance of ponds to skunks, raccoons, otters, moose, muskrats, beavers
and various water birds is detailed. Emphasis is on the interdependence of all elements
of the pond biosphere.

CONTENT SAMPLE:

48. . . . This bladderwort supplements its diet with minute pond creatures, plankton, tiny
invertebrate animals of many kinds.

49. "Wort" means plant and the "bladders" are the little air sacks all over the under water
part of the plant. Each sack is about 1/16 of an inch in size and is used to catch and digest its
prey.

48-49 Bladderwort has feathery underwater leaves near the surface and yellow
flowers protruding above it. The "bladders" all along its stems help keep it floating at the surface
and also trap and digest tiny water organisms that give the plant some of its nourishment. These
bladders are like little traps, set to go off if touched. When set, the walls of the bladders are
tightly compressed. When insect larvae or other plankton enter the outer openings of the
bladders, their movement springs the trap by causing a valve to open. The walls of the bladder
suddenly expand causing a rapid inrush of water which sweeps the tiny creature into the bladder
where, when the valve closes, it is held fast and digested. A plant only seven inches long may
capture 150,000 crustaceans and other small animals.

Bladderwort is most abundant in tropical waters and is found in streams, ponds, ditches
and bogs. The flowers are not always yellow--they may be white, purple or blue and the plant
may be submerged or creeping on the bottom, as well as floating at the surface. Moose and a
number of water birds feed on this plant.

REVIEWS:

AWARD FOR CREATIVE EXCELLENCE U.S. Industrial Film Festival

"...beautifully photographed, with a low-keyed narration that is almost poetic at times."
Bay Area Media Evaluation Guide.

"Overall--very interesting--informative--an excellent program....Very worthwhile to
purchase." M.E. North Park Elementary.
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FRESHWATER TERM TUTOR--AQUATIC WORD GAMES Order #C-3085P.........$39.95

Concepts from our FRESHWATER programs!

A low cost computer utility to teach fundamentals! Popular word games eliminate
vocabulary drills. Versatile, yet easy to use and incorporates readily into any curriculum,
drawing on a HUGE glossary or your own word lists!

WORD SCAN is an interactive vocabulary-builder that anyone can play, solo or
as a team, to motivate students and enhance memory skills. WORD FIND produces an
infinite number of word puzzles. Program prints key and puzzle singly or as sets.
Because you can customize, programs appeal to all ages. Makes great pop quizzes. An
enormous time saver! Comes with two backups. IBM PC only. ( 5.25 disk #C-3085M.)
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~0709-037~ Spotted sunfish (Leponis punctatus). photo by Charles R. Belinky, Ph.D.

Copyright (c) MCMXCVII Educational Images Ltd., Elmira, NY, USA. All rights reserved.

EDUCATIONAL IMAGES LTD.

P.O.Box 3456 Westside Station

Elmira, N.Y., USA, 14905-0456

Telephone: 800-527-4264; 607-732-1090

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